If draft-eligible age drops to 18 for 2019 draft, what is effect for Celtics


Vernon Carey, Jr.
We may not be far from seeing the minimum age for NBA draftees drop to 18 years of age. The NBA may be ready to make that change.

Such a move would eliminate some of the one-and-dones that enter college for one only one year and quickly depart for the NBA. This change would allow players to be once again drafted right out of high school. There may be a silver lining for the Boston Celtics if this goes into effect for the next NBA draft.

Boston currently holds four potential first-round picks in the 2019 draft, and the most important one may be the top-1 protected Sacramento pick. In USA TODAY Sports mock 2019 mock draft, 6'10" Vernon Carey, Jr. is projected at the 2nd spot to the Kings. Pick #3 in the mock draft is 6'3" Cole Anthony. Both are about to enter their senior year of high school.

Cole Anthony
In addition to the high schoolers possibly entering the draft, there are the likes of R. J. Barrett, Cam Reddish and Zion Williamson doing the one-and-done college routine and possibly entering the draft.

With the four possible first-round picks in the 2019 NBA draft, and if the change comes about in time, they will have many additional options, being able to choose from both the one-and-doners and the high school grads. The following is via Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett:

As regards the lowering of the age requirement, Silver said, “My personal view is that we’re ready to make that change. That it won’t come immediately. When I’ve weighed the pros and cons, given that Condoleezza Rice and her commission has recommended to the NBA that those one-and-done players now come directly into the league, and in essence the college community is saying we do not want those players anymore, that sort of tips the scale in my mind that we should be taking a serious look at lowering our age to 18.”

The college coaches and college basketball fans have had it with players only spending one year in college and departing for the draft. That seems to be the major point here. The NBA could always go in the other direction and require an age of 20 years and/or a minimum of two years of college, but I don't see that happening.

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Carey photo via Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Potot via David Butler/USA TODAY Sports